Life-preserver.



No. 659,l27. Patented Oct, 2, I900. A. 'BRISIGHELLI.

LIFE PRESEBVER.

, (Application filed Feb. 9, 1900.!

(No Model.)

I 1 W/ NESES:

UNITED; STATES :ALCEO BRISIGHELLI, or OORDOBA, ARGENTINA.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 659,127, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed February 9, 1900. o'erial No. 4,638. (No model.)

7 To aiZZ whom it may .oncern:

' proved life-preserver.

Be it known that I, ALCEO BRISIGHELLI, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im- Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the gas-generator. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the gas-generator, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of certain parts of the generator.

The life-preserver comprises a suitable inflatable tube or casing A, made of rubber or of any other fabric of sufficient imperviousness, and of a gas-generator B, secured to said casing. The casing is generally made of a proper size to fitaround a persons body under the arms like an ordinary life-preserver.

The generator comprises a water-receptacle 0, having in its front or outer wall an aperture, through which extends a tube or socket D, secured to said front wall.- At its front end said socket has a screw-thread D, into which fits a screw-cap E, provided with a milled head E. This cap has through-apertures E leading from its front face to its rear face, as shown in Fig. 4, which is a rear view of the cap. In the socket D is further mox able longitudinallya piston F, connected with a rod F, which at its rear end carries a valve G, adapted to close the open rear end of the receptacle O. This valve, as shown, consists of three layers held together by nuts H. At the rear end of the socket D the rod F passes through a stuffing-box I, having a gasket I. A spring F is coiled on the rod F between the piston F and the rear end of the socket D. Furthermore, the rod F carries a crossbar J, secured to it-rigidly and engaging the walls of the receptacleC to form a guide for the rod F. Cordoba, Argentina, have invented new and The receptacle 0 has an annular flange C projecting from it, and in the rear of said 5 flange is a screw-thread C for the purpose of 5 making connection with the inner or carbid receptacle K. This receptacle is entirely open at the front, so that it is readily acces sible after the water-receptacle O has been screwed ofi. Adjacent to the flange C the receptacle K has an annular flange K, forming a shoulder, against which is seated the L edge of the inflatable tubeA. At some porf tion which is within the tube A, preferably at its upper wall, the receptacle K is provided with apertures K To fill the apparatus, so that it will be ready for use,the water-receptacle O is screwed off and a suitable amount of a substance adapted -to give off gas when in contact with water, such as calcium carbid, is filled into thereceptacle' K, as indicated at M. The receptacle O is filled with Water through the opening in its rear end, the spring F holding the valve G open at that time, the cap E being removed. Then, preferably while the open end of the receptacle C is lowermost, a suitable compound soluble in water or capable ofdecomposingitsuch as potassiun1,sodium, or calcium carbidis introduced into the socket D on the outside of the piston F, as indicated at N. The cap E is then screwed in by means of the head E, thus compressing the filling N and the spring F and causing the valve G to become firmly seated, so that the water cannot reach the carbid even when the receptacle is shaken or inclined. The receptacle O is then again screwed into the receptacle K. The apparatus is then ready for use. A person has nothing to do but to slip the life-preserver around the body. As soon as the person is in the water the outer end of the socket D will be submerged and water will pass through the apertures E of the cap E to the filling N. This filling will by dissolving or decomposition remove the resistance opposed to the outward movement of the piston F, and the valve G will be moved outward by the spring F This will allow water from the receptacle C to pass into the carbid-receptacle K to generate acetylene gas, which through the apertures K will enter the casing A and in date the same. The wearer will thus be kept from sinking. The inflation, as I have found by experiment, takes place in a very short time-about eight or nine seconds.

The cal-bid should be in the shape of small lumps or fragments to secure a ready generation of gas.

Various modifications may be made Without departing from the nature of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. A life-prcserver, consisting of an inflatable casing, and a gas-generator comprising a generating-rcceptacle carried by the said casing and communicating with the interior thereof, a liquid-receptacle, having a valvecontrolled connection with the generating-receptacle, a filling which when dry keeps the valve closed and when wet/ted allows it to open, and a perforated cap for holding said filling in position.

2. A life-preserver, consisting of an inflatable casing, and a gas-generator comprising a generatingreceptacle carried by the said casing and communicating with the interior thereof, a liquid receptacle communicating with the generating-receptacle, a valve for closing said com m unicatiomaspring for0pening the valve, a filling which when dry 0pposes the action of the spring and keeps the valve closed, and when Wetted allows it to open, and a perforated cap for holding said filling in position.

3. A life-preserver, consisting of an inflatable casing, and a gas-generator comprising a generating receptacle carried by the said casing and communicating with the interior thereof, a liquid receptacle communicating with the generatingreceptacle, a valve for closing said communication, a rod connected with the valve, a socket secured to the liquidrecept-acle and into which extends the valverod, a piston secured to the rod within the socket, a spring coiled on the rod within the socket between-the piston and the valve, and a perforated cap screwing into the outerend of the socket.

4. A life-preserver, consisting of an inflatable casing, and a gas-generator comprising a generating-receptacle carried by the said casing and communicating with the interior thereof, a liquid receptacle communicating with the generating-receptacle, a valve for closing said communication, a rod connected with the val ve,a socket secured to the liquidreceptacle and into which extends the valverod, a piston secured to the rod within the socket, a spring coiled on the rod within the socket between the piston and the valve, a guide-bar secured to the rod between the valve and the socket and engaging the liquidreceptacle, anda perforated cap screwing into the outer end of the socket.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALCEO BRISIGHELLI.

Witnesses:

JOHN LOTKA, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

